Komodo Dancer

Looking for a romantic vacation? Dancer Fleet of liveaboard dive boats welcomes you aboard the Komodo Dancer as you embark on an amazing 11-day / 10-night scuba diving adventure of a lifetime. The Komodo Dancer is based out of Bali, Indonesia and travels two distinct itineraries in and around the waters of the Flores Sea. One excursion visits spectacular dive sites between Bali and Komodo National Park. The other excursion, East of Flores, explores the beautiful Flores Sea and Alor Islands.

The Republic of Indonesia is an archipelago comprised of some 17,000 islands extending over 3,100 miles (5,000 km.). Indonesia straddles the equator just to the north of Australia and to the south of both the Philippines and Malaysia. Thanks to the nutrient rich waters from the oceans and currents that converge, divers will experience an abundance of marine life. Komodo National Park, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to more than 70 species of sponges, 1,000 species of fish, and nearly 400 species of reef-building corals. The underwater terrain varies from calm, sandy flats, to dramatic vertical walls and pinnacles.

Just east of Flores Island in Southern Indonesia lies Alor, a cluster of small volcanic islands, surrounded by the fauna-rich waters of the Flores Sea. You will visit the area known as East Nusa Tenggara where you will experience drifting along sheer walls, brilliant coral gardens, seamounts, black sanded areas, and an amazing variety of critters. The crystal clear visibility in these waters will vividly bring to life an incredibly prolific and diverse marine ecosystem. Large animals such as whales, sharks, and tuna are also attracted to these nutrient-rich waters.

In order to seek out the best dive spots available at the time of your cruise, your actual itinerary will be up to the Captain’s discretion, and may vary depending on weather and sea conditions. All dives will be made from a dive tender. You will be able to make 3-4 dives each day, including a night dive. Two dives will be offered on the last day. Before making your first dive, you must show the divemaster either your c-card or some other proof of diving certification. Because of the number of dives you will be making each day, it is recommended that you wear a wetsuit. Some people use up to a 5mm. suit for added thermal protection.

Komodo National Park Excursion

On the Komodo National Park itinerary you will visit spectacular dive sites between Bali and the Komodo National Park in Indonesia. Abundant marine life, vibrant coral reefs, and Komodo Dragons await you amid dazzling local cultures. Separated by just a few nautical miles, Komodo has two distinct marine habitats, one offering temperate scuba diving and the other tropical. Photographers and videographers alike will enjoy countless opportunities to record every encounter.

Bali offers something for divers of all skill levels. Some areas have light currents while others have good conditions for drift diving. Bali also offers opportunities for snorkeling and excellent night diving. Visibility is usually very good, ranging from 33-165 feet (10-50 m.). Healthy and vibrant coral reefs and teeming marine life make this a very desirable dive destination. You will spot numerous pelagics such as Barracuda, White- and Black-tipped Sharks, Turtles, Frogfish, Manta Rays, and possibly even the Mola Mola, known as the Oceanic Sunfish. Also as part of your excursion, all guests have the opportunity to go ashore for a 2-hour walk on Komodo. The main attraction of your walk is to go in search of the Komodo Dragon, which is the largest monitor lizard in the world.

The Komodo Dancer visits several dive sites including some in the Komodo National Park, some in the Lesser Sunda Islands, and several at the surrounding islands of Sangeang and Sumbawa. While scuba diving is good at any time of the year in this part of Indonesia, visibility can vary from one season to the next. You can expect visibility of 35-100 feet (10-30 m.) at most dive sites. Within the park, water temperatures can vary considerably. Toward the south, the average low temperature is 72°F (22°C), while the water temperatures can get to 84°F (29°C).

Within Komodo National Park, dive sites may include Sabolan, Padar, Rinca, and Komodo Island. Dive sites in the Lesser Sunda Islands may include Bima, Sumbawa, Lombok, and Bali. The various areas you may explore are Labuhan Bajo (also known as Labuan Bajo), Sebayor, Gil Lawah Laut, Tatawa, Gili Banta, Loh Buaya, Nusa Kode, Gil Motang, Langkoi, and Loh Liang.

Sabolan presents a relatively easy wall dive with visibility to 80-100 feet (24-30 m.). Here you will see numerous colorful fans, sponges, gorgonians, and soft corals. Pelagics such as Tuna and Trevally congregate here. Lionfish, Angelfish, and large schools of Snapper and Damsels can also be seen here.
The steep reef and wall of the White Angels dive site off Gili Banta is best dived in the morning when the pelagics are out feeding on the plentiful food supply brought in by the currents. There is a shallow sheltered bay area, but then the reef drops quickly to 110 feet (35 m.) and more. Visibility ranges from about 35 to 85 feet (10-25 m.). The currents can be strong and can run vertically. Because of this, this dive is recommended for intermediate to advanced level divers. In addition to a variety of sponges and corals, you will see Queen Mackerel, Grey Reef Sharks, and Yellowtails.

Sebayor divesite, also known as Sebayor Kecil, is located within Komodo Island National Park. This fringing reef extends north and west, and drops off 100-130 feet (30-40 m.). Here you will see large boulders with schools of Giant Trevallies, Coral Trouts, Emperors, Snappers, and White-tipped Sharks swimming around. There can be strong currents in this area.

Tatawa Kecil offers caves and a beautiful coral garden. Along this reef you will see a variety of fish including Trevally, Groupers, Snappers, and Sharks. Manta Rays are also seen in this area. Novice and experienced scuba divers alike will enjoy diving at Nusa Kode, thanks to the calm waters usually present. Corals cover much of the sea bed here, and there are some unique boulders to explore. If you are patient, you may spot Giant Grouper, Snappers, and more.

Coral reefs and white sand can be found at Loh Buaya. While dive depths here range from 65-100feet (20-30 m.), the dive conditions are suitable for beginners. In shallow areas you will find Staghorn Coral and plenty of Seafans. Some of the other marine life you may see includes Wonderpus Octopus, Flamboyant Cuttlefish, Rhinopias, Zebra Crabs, and Coleman Shrimp.

Langkoi Rock dive site is for advanced divers, as it is perhaps the most extreme of the Komodo National Park dive sites. At this submerged pinnacle you will deep dive and hold on to avoid being swept by the current. The dive will be worth the effort, however, when you see the White- and Black-tipped Sharks, Hammerheads, Grey Reef Sharks, and Bronze Whalers that congregate in this area.

Komodo East of Flores Excursion to the Alor Islands

Adventurous divers will enjoy this itinerary as the Komodo Dancer departs from Maumere and travels to visit the volcanic collection of islands that run east of Flores in the Nusa Tenggara archipelago: Adonara, Solor, Lembata, Pantar, and Alor. You will experience some of the best “unknown” diving Asia has to offer, making this trip both pioneering and dramatic. This is due to the largely undiscovered and undeveloped nature of this region. Visibility here can exceed 130 feet (40 m.) and water temperatures on the reefs frequently reach 82°F (28°C), although elsewhere they can go below 68°F (20°C). Most of your dives will take place on the tranquil reefs that surround these islands where you will see hundreds of species of fish among the vibrant corals. Small critters abound in the sand and rubble areas, creating fantastic photo and video opportunities. These rugged islands are characterized by jagged mountains and deep valleys. You will also have the opportunity to go ashore to experience the local culture.

Your scuba diving itinerary may include visits to Pulau Kumba, Alor Baeng Bay, Pura Island, North West Pura, Pantar, Kalabahi Sound, Ternate Island, Adonara, Floes, Palau Babi, Buaya, Woodong, and Pangabatang. While diving at some sites is suitable for beginners, in other areas currents can be strong and you may experience swells, making the dives more suited for advanced scuba divers. Some of the marine life you see can include such large animals as Mola Mola, Hammerhead Sharks, Thresher Sharks, and huge Dogtooth Tuna. Napoleon Wrasse, White- and Black-tipped Sharks, Grey Reefsharks, Eagle and Mobular Rays, and enormous Black Blotched Stingrays appear during dives along the northern route. Schools of dolphins and the occasional whale can also be seen.

Pura Island has several popular dive sites. Look for Sea Anemones covering a large expanse of reef, small critters such as Mandarin Dragonets, Scorpionfish, and Pegasus Sea Moths. An area of mangroves provides interesting muck diving where you may see Metallic Goby, Randall’s Goby, Rhinopias, and Waspfish.

You will find varied and impressive terrain when diving at Ternate Island. Big walls, chimneys, arches, and overhangs all add to the interest. The Arch at Ternate Island presents a huge wall with underwater crevices forming an arch at about 65-100 feet (20-30 m.). Here you can see Gorgonians and Whip Corals that exceed 10 feet (3 m.) in length. At the upper part of this reef you can find Marble Dragonets, Filefish, and Nudibranchs.

On night dives at Kalabachi Bay on Alor look for Tiger Shrimp, Boxer Crabs, Spotfin Frogfish, Thorny Sea Horses, and lots of Nudibranchs.

The Dancer Fleet strives to provide scuba divers and vacationers with the highest quality and most innovative liveaboard experience possible. In addition to unmatched scuba diving, guests aboard the Komodo Dancer will enjoy excellent accommodations and delicious meals as part of their vacation package. The Dancer Fleet’s dive boats afford guests both safety and comfort as they travel to the best diving locations around the world.